NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: Terrorist attack
Students gathered in clusters across the academy, chatting about their lessons and showcasing their talents. The faint hum of spells and lively banter filled the air.
It wasn't just the mage students that made this academy lively. There were so many students practising with their swords and other weapons they used. For the Academy, it was just another ordinary day—or so they thought.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion shattered the peace. The ground trembled, windows rattled, and a plume of black smoke billowed into the sky from the direction of the main gate.
The laughter and chatter stopped abruptly as students turned toward the source of the disturbance. Panic rippled through the crowd.
"What was that?!"
"An explosion—at the gate!"
"Was it an experiment gone wrong?"
The lecturers, positioned in various parts of the academy, immediately activated their magic. Spells of clairvoyance and surveillance rippled through the air as they attempted to locate the source.
It wasn't just the lecturers, but the students and the academy guards also quickly put their attention on this anomality.
But something was wrong.
Professor Leyric, a seasoned mage in charge of defensive wards, frowned deeply as he clutched his chest. "Why... why do I feel so drained?" His vision blurred, and his hands trembled. "This... this isn't normal."
Across the academy, others began to experience the same. Students faltered mid-spell, collapsing to their knees as their mana was sapped. Lecturers exchanged worried glances, struggling to maintain their strength.
"Something is disrupting our magic," one of the senior professors, Lady Caedwen, an elf with years of experience, said with urgency. Her silvery eyes narrowed. "Stay here and ensure the students' safety. I'll investigate."
"But, Lady Caedwen—" one of her colleagues began, but she silenced him with a sharp glance.
"I'm the only one here who can still move freely. Whatever this is, I'll deal with it," she said firmly, striding toward the source of the explosion. "Beside, Lady Eldra asked me to take care of the academy while she is gone, I have to fulfill my responsibility,"
Caedwen reached the gates, her sharp elven senses picking up the scent of burnt stone and charred wood. Her heart sank as she took in the devastation. The grand gates of Thimoria Academy, reinforced with protective enchantments, had been obliterated. Chunks of debris lay scattered, and the path leading into the academy was scarred with magical residue—a powerful destructive spell had been unleashed.
Her eyes fell on the intruders. A group of hooded figures strode through the wreckage, their movements calculated and unhurried. Their robes bore no identifying insignias, but the dark, malevolent aura emanating from them was unmistakable.
Caedwen raised her voice, her tone laced with authority. "You dare attack Thimoria Academy? Do you maggots not know who is in charge of this prestigious academy?"
The hooded figures stopped, their heads turning toward her in eerie unison. One of them, a tall figure with an unsettling presence, stepped forward. Beneath the hood, Caedwen caught a glimpse of hatred filled eyes.
"You shouldn't have come here, elf," the figure said, their voice cold and dripping with disdain.
Caedwen tightened her grip on her staff, her mana flaring despite the oppressive force draining her. "I won't let you harm anyone else." She began to weave a powerful spell, summoning tendrils of golden light that crackled with divine energy.
Was it fire magic or holy magic? No, the answer Caedwen always came up with was none other than it was a mix. After all, she was only one tier behind Eldra, but still, the difference remained humongous.
But before she could release it, the figures moved with inhuman speed. Three of them lunged at her simultaneously, their weapons drawn. Caedwen barely managed to deflect the first strike, her barrier shimmering as it absorbed the impact.
"You'll regret this!" she shouted, unleashing a burst of light that sent two of her attackers reeling. And in the process making holes in their body leading to their death.
However, the remaining figures didn't falter. They coordinated their attacks with precision, overwhelming her defences. One of them landed a blow on her side, and she staggered, blood staining her pristine robes.
"These bastards..." Caedwen gritted her teeth, refusing to back down. She summoned another spell, but the oppressive energy in the air made it fizzle out before it could take shape. "My power is draining! This is anti-magic."
The tall figure sneered. "Your kind always overestimates their worth."
With a swift, brutal motion, one of the intruders drove a blade through Caedwen's chest. Her eyes widened in shock as the weapon pierced her heart.
She collapsed to her knees, blood pooling beneath her. The golden light of her magic flickered and dimmed. Her breathing slowed as her vision blurred, the sounds of the intruders' mocking laughter ringing in her ears.
"An elven scum," one of them spat, kicking her lifeless body to the side.
Another sneered, pulling back their hood to reveal a pale, scarred face. "These inhuman scum think they're better than us. Pathetic."
The others murmured in agreement, their disdain for the fallen elf evident.
"Enough," the tall figure said, their tone sharp. "We're not here to waste time. Secure the academy. Kill anyone who resists and massacre all the inhuman children."
***
The halls of Thimoria Academy buzzed with uneasy chatter as students speculated about the deafening explosion earlier. Many of them were oblivious to the severity of the situation, chalking it up to some magical experiment gone awry.
"I bet one of the alchemy students tried something crazy again," one student said, chuckling nervously.
"Or maybe one of the lecturers lost control of a summoning spell," another added, shrugging.
Amid the speculation, a group of senior students sat near the academy fountain, their conversation more serious.
"Did you hear? Principal Eldra left for Crecork this morning. She's meeting with the allied nation ambassadors about plans to deal with the blight and the demon incursions."
"And now this happens when she's gone? Coincidence?"
"Doubt it. Something's off."
Before they could dwell further, a loud, magical hum reverberated through the air. The academy bell rang, but this time, its sound carried an urgency that silenced the entire campus.
A voice, amplified by magic, echoed across the grounds. "All students are to report immediately to the assembly hall. This is not a drill. All students must comply without delay."
The announcement sent a ripple of unease through the students.
"An assembly? During class hours? This can't be good."
"Do you think it's about the explosion?"
As the students began heading toward the assembly hall, the oppressive atmosphere grew heavier. Whispers of danger circulated, but no one could predict the magnitude of the threat looming over them.
Meanwhile, chaos erupted near the academy entrance,
The Arcane Blades—an elite group of students assigned to protect the academy—and several lecturers had formed a defensive line against the invading hooded figures. However, the battle was anything but easy.
The intruders moved with precision, wielding weapons and tools specifically designed to counter the academy's defenses. Their coordination and power made it clear—they were no ordinary bandits or terrorists.
"These... These aren't just some rogue mercenaries!" one Arcane Blade shouted as he barely deflected an incoming strike. "They're trained! Who the hell are these people?"
A lecturer, dodging a spell-suppressing chain thrown by one of the hooded figures, shouted back, "This is the work of a well trained group! No random group could pull off something this organized! They know principal Eldra is not present and that's why they are bold enough to attack us,"
Adding to their disadvantage was the oppressive anti-magic barrier that sapped the strength of everyone within its range. The academy's defenders struggled to cast even the simplest spells, while the invaders fought unaffected, thanks to their prepared countermeasures.
"We're being slaughtered out here!"
Despite their losses, the defenders fought on, buying precious time for the students to evacuate.
Inside the academy, Mesuna Ven Londor stood near a group of teachers, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Lady Mesuna," one of the lecturers said, panting. "We're being overwhelmed. Our magic is barely functioning, and their forces are relentless."
Mesuna, gripping her massive greatsword, which shimmered with fire runes, turned to her teacher. "It's the barrier. Someone is maintaining this anti-magic field, and I'm betting they're nearby. It's not possible to maintain a barrier like this covering the whole academy unless they are..."
She didn't want to admit it, but Mesuna knew this might be the work of another warden or at least a master.
The teacher nodded grimly. "If we don't take it down soon, the entire academy will fall. What are the city guards doing? Is city also under attack?"
"Then hold the line," Mesuna said, her voice firm and resolute. "I'll find whoever is responsible for this and end it. Just make sure the students stay safe."
"Noooo! Lady Mesuna can't...if you fall in this academy, our land will say farewell to the last remaining shred of peacefulness," One of the professor shouted, but Mesuna wasn't going to listen. Was she overconfident about her ability? Nobody knew because they were not fighting under the normal conditions.
Without waiting for a response, Mesuna charged toward the hooded invaders. Her greatsword, enchanted with fire, roared to life as she swung it with devastating force, cutting through her enemies.
The invaders, caught off guard by her ferocity, barely had time to react.
"Who the hell is that? Isn't she human? Can we kill her?" one of them hissed, dodging a fiery swing that scorched the ground.
"Doesn't matter," another snarled. "Take her down! It's such a waste to kill a human girl like her, but we don't have luxury to worry about that right now."
But Mesuna was relentless. With each swing of her blade, she carved a path through the enemy ranks, her fiery aura a beacon of hope for the defenders.
'If Darius was here, he would do the same. I can't worry about my safety when I have my one and only brother inside that academy. I need to end this. I hope he is safe!'
Mesuna muttered to herself while gliding through the attackers, massaacring so many of them.
Elsewhere in the academy, Cali and Dilhan were running alongside Tressa, the academy's healer. Tressa, a kind-hearted woman who had often taken care of Dilhan, was clearly out of her element because she was not a fighter.
"What's going on, Cali?" Dilhan asked, his voice tight with confusion.
"I don't know, but we need to get to the assembly hall now," Cali replied, her hand gripping his wrist as she led the way.
Tressa, struggling to keep up, panted heavily. "Why would anyone attack the academy? This is a place of learning, not war!"
Suddenly, a figure crashed through a nearby window, glass shards scattering across the hallway. The three froze as a hooded woman, armed with a pair of sinister-looking daggers shaped like elongated nails, landed gracefully in front of them.
Her movements were fluid, almost predatory, and her presence exuded danger.
Cali's heart sank. "An assassin," she whispered.
The woman tilted her head, a faint smirk playing on her lips as she sized them up.
"Run," Tressa said, her voice trembling. "We need to—"
Before she could finish, the assassin vanished in a blur, reappearing behind them.
"Leaving so soon?" the assassin purred, her voice laced with mockery. "If so leave that elf girl here. Humans can leave,"
Cali's grip on Dilhan tightened as she realized there was no escape. Tressa, untrained in combat, looked like she was about to faint.
"Don't worry," Cali said, stepping in front of them. Her usual carefree demeanor was replaced by steely determination. "I'll manage somehow. Please escape!"
Dilhan's eyes widened. "Cali, no. She's an assassin! You can't—"
"I can, and I will," Cali interrupted, her voice firm. "I'm not going to let her hurt either of you. I am the only offensive type mage here, so leave!"
As Cali readied herself, Dilhan's thoughts raced. His breathing quickened as realization dawned upon him.
"This... This is it," he muttered under his breath.
"This is the attack that starts everything," Dilhan continued, his voice tinged with dread. "The attack that began the events of the game Blighted. If we don't get out of the academy grounds, we're all going to die."